Asplenium serratum L.

  • Authority

    Mickel, John T. & Beitel, Joseph M. 1988. Pteridophyte Flora of Oaxaca, Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 46: 1-580.

  • Family

    Aspleniaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Asplenium serratum L.

  • Description

    Species Description - Rhizome large, erect, clothed with dense mass of roots and old leaf bases; rhizome apex clothed with clathrate scales, black, (4-)8-10 mm long, margin with retrorse hairs with glandular tips; fronds clumped; stipe short, less than 2 cm long (to 10 cm), black or green; blade simple, unlobed, 3 5-7 5(-100) cm long, 6-14 cm wide, narrowly oblanceolate, texture thin, tip acute, base cuneate, margin crenate to finely serrulate, lower surface with rare 0.3-0.5 mm pectinate, clathrate scales and scattered 1.5-3.5 mm pectinate, clathrate scales along either side of rachis; veins simple or once-forked near base; sori linear along veins in distal portion of blade; indusia (5-) 12-25 mm long, 0.5 mm wide, entire.

  • Discussion

    Lectotype (chosen by Proctor, Fl. L. Antill. 2: 313. 1977). Plumier, Descr. pl. Amér., t. 39. 1693, based on material from either Martinique or Hispaniola. Proctor rejected Morton and Lellinger’s (1966: 9) choice. The large, undivided fronds make this one of the most distinctive species in Oaxaca.

  • Distribution

    Epiphytic in wet forests of Atlantic slope; Ixtlán, Juchitán, Tuxtepec; 100-850 m. Mexico (Ver, Oax, Chis, Tab); US (Fla); Guat to Pan; WI, Trin; Col & Ven, Gui, s to Bol & Arg.

    Mexico North America| Argentina South America| Bolivia South America| French Guiana South America| Venezuela South America| Colombia South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America| West Indies| Panama Central America| Guatemala Central America| Florida United States of America North America|